SCHAFFHAUSEN
2000m
AUTOMATIC
AQUATIMER
A review by Damon, Marc & Kyle
~CRYSTAL, BEZEL & DIAL~
DAMON:The 3.7-mm convex sapphire crystal on this watch is what I'd expect from IWC. It makes the watch very easy to read even while under the water.
The bezel on the Aquatimer was well thought out by IWC. To turn it, you have to push down on opposite sides or it will not turn. Most dive watches you just simply turn it, which could cause it to turn by accident while diving. IWC was also smart enough to make the bezel so that the owner could service it. When you dive, sand, salt, and other elements are left on the watch. Overtime, these particles can build up and cause the bezel to become hard to move. IWC made it so that the owners can remove the bezel by themselves and clean out anything that has gotten under it. As a diver, this is a nice feature to have since it means that you don't have to send your watch in for service should something stop the bezel from turning. I love the way that IWC made it with a brushed finish and didn't use an insert like so many other dive watches out there. The large luminescent marker on the bezel is also a very nice touch.
I love the dial on this watch. It's very clean, and it doesn't have any added clutter to distract from the looks. The large size dial makes it possible for IWC to make the minute markers farther apart than most watches so it takes away any guess work when reading the exact time. IWC also made the background for the date black to match the dial, which is always a nice touch on any watch in my opinion. The applied steel indices along with the steel hands make the watch even easier to read in low lighting conditions. The only complaint that I have about this watch is the lack of a luminescent marker on the second hand.
The crystal actually looks more like a lens then anything else. I have never seen anything like it. It is convex in nature and is 3.7mm thick. It is a true joy to look at, but can be a tad difficult to read at severe angles. Mind you when will you not be able to tilt your arm a few degrees? It is not coated with any anti-reflective material, which is not that big a deal. If the crystal would have been flat, I might have complained about this. It also protrudes ever so slightly above the bezel, making it susceptible to chips. Sapphire is VERY scratch-resistant, but is brittle.
The bezel is absolutely ingenious, in order to turn it you must push down on two opposite sides or it will not budge. This feature totally negates the possibility of accidental turning, which could shorten or more dangerously lengthen a dive. It can also be removed via tiny screws located between the case and the bezel. This is great. With prolonged use the bezel can become encrusted with debris such as salt, sand and silt. Instead of having the watch sent to a service center, the owner could clean it himself. Just like the crown, the bezel has an awesome bite and can easily be adjusted with gloves on. It is also fitted with a dot of Super Luminova for increased legibility in poor lighting conditions.
The dial measures 32mm in diameter, large but not too large. It is mat black and because of the convex crystal it almost looks concave. It is perfect in every way, let me explain. I have yet to own a sports watch that has such an exact dial. The luminescent material is perfectly applied, no bleeding, no blotches and no holes. Speaking of luminescent material. Surprisingly my watch uses both Tritium and Super Luminova on the dial. Not sure what to make of it at first, I did some research and once I confirmed that it was indeed a mix of both materials, I realized that it was not such a bad idea after all. The most important information on a watch is the time. Therefore it makes sense to use tritium, since it glows constantly. Yet it is a radioactive (RA) substance and should be used sparingly. The rest of the markers are coated in Super Luminova, a non-RA substance that glows for about 4-5 hours. Two birds with one stone. The rest of the dial is very clean, not too much writing, mind you they could have done away with the word automatic, but I am just being picky. The date is located at the usual 3 o'clock and is painted white on black, which is exactly the way it should be.
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